The first Test of the three-match series between Sri Lanka and India will be played at Galle International Stadium. This is India’s second tour of Sri Lanka for a Test series after 2015. India are currently top side in ICC Test rankings and would look to maintain it by winning another series in Sri Lanka. Ahead of the first Test of the series, here are some interesting numbers to look out for.

1 win for India at Galle International Stadium in four Tests. Their only win at Galle came in 2008, courtesy Virender Sehwag’s double ton in first innings, while their defeats came in 2001, 2010 and 2015.

17 wins for Sri Lanka at Galle in Tests from 29 Tests. This is the 2nd most successful venue for Sri Lanka in Tests after SSC Colombo, where they have won 19 out of 40 Tests. Moreover, their win percentage of 58.62% is the best across all venues with 5-Test cut-off.

10 Tests out of the last 10 in Sri Lanka, that have produced results. None of them ended in draw. Sri Lanka won 7 out of them, includes beating Australia thrice, West Indies twice and one each against Bangladesh and Zimbabwe. Two out of their three defeats came against India in 2015 and one against Bangladesh earlier this year.

1 defeat for India in last 10 Tests, which came against Australia at Pune earlier this year. While India won 7 and drawn 2 against Australia and England.

6 Test wins for India in Sri Lanka from 21 Tests, while they have lost 7 and drawn 8.

8 Sri Lankan players out of their 15-man squad haven’t any experience of playing against India. They are: Niroshan Dickwella, Asele Gunaratne, Dhananjaya de Silva, Danushka Gunathilaka, Dilruwan Perera, Suranga Lakmal, Lahiru Kumara and Malinda Pushpakumara. From Indian camp, a total of six players have not faced Sri Lanka — Ravindra Jadeja, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohammed Shami, Kuldeep Yadav, Hardik Pandya and Abhinav Mukund.

3: Only 3 Indian batsmen averages in excess of 40 in Sri Lanka from the current squad — Wriddhiman Saha (43.66), Shikhar Dhawan (81) and Cheteshwar Pujara (145).

18.09 Ravichandran Ashwin’s bowling average in Sri Lanka, the best by an Indian bowler in the Island nation. Overall, Ashwin’s average is the 4th best among all bowlers with 20-wicket cut-off after Richard Hadlee (27 wickets at 12.29), Mitchell Starc (24 wickets at 15.16) and Brett Schultz (20 wickets at 16.3). Moreover, Ashwin also tops the chart among Indians when it comes to bowling strike-rate in Sri Lanka with 32.8. Overall, Ashwin is at 3rd in the list after Starc (25.8) and Waqar Younis (31.2).

50th Test for Ashwin. He will become 30th Indain to play this much Tests.

97 runs required for Ashwin to complete 2,000-run mark in Tests. He will become 37th Indian to achieve this feat. Moreover, if Ashwin reaches this landmark in any of the Test in this series, he will become the fastest to achieve the double of 250 wickets and 2,000 Test runs. The current record holder is Richard Hadlee, who completed this double in 54 Tests only.

8 wickets needed for Ravindra Jadeja to complete 150 wickets in Tests. He will become 14th Indian to do so. If Jadeja gets this milestone mark in any of the Test in this series, he will become the 2nd fastest Indian after Ashwin, who did in 29 matches. Moreover, he will also become the 3rd fastest to double of 1,000 runs and 150 wickets after Ian Botham and Ashwin — both achieved this feat in 29 Tests. Jadeja has played 30 Tests so far.

5 wickets required for Bhuvneshwar Kumar to complete 50 Test wickets. He will become 16th Indian pacer to reach this milestone.

2 catches and 23 runs required for Wriddhiman Saha complete the double of 50 catches and 1,000 Test runs as wicketkeeper-batsman. As batsman, Saha has already gone past 1,000-ru mark but as wicketkeeper, he is 23 short of it. Saha will become 51st cricketer to achieve this double and 6th India.

5th position will be taken over Sri Lanka in Test rankins if they win the first match against India. They are currently at 7th position in the rankings. Moreover, India will lose its no. 1 position in the rankings in case of defeat. In case of draw, Sri Lanka will move to 6th from 7th. While, in case of India’s win, both the team’s place in rankings will remain same.

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